Our history

BSI has played a leading role in developing a new generation of standards to help organizations become better governed and more responsible such as anti-bribery, organizational governance and asset management. BSI has also increased collaboration with experts in new fields such as smart cities, nanotechnologies, cell therapy and Building Information Modelling (BIM).

As a result of these strategic moves, and through more than a century of growth, BSI now delivers a comprehensive business services portfolio to clients, helping them raise their performance and enhance their competitiveness worldwide.

2015:- with the acquisition of USA-based EORM and Hill Country Environmental Inc BSI entered the environmental, health, safety and engineering consultancy market- acquired the management systems certification business of PwC in South Africa.

2014:- BSI inaugurated the BSI Standards Awards to officially recognize the outstanding contributions of the community of over 10,000 independent experts and the 1,200 committees, the heart of developing standards

2010:- opened new offices in Qatar and Saudi Arabia- acquired gas certification body GLCS, the leading certifier of gas related consumer equipment in the UK and one of the top three in Europe.- extended its presence in Italy and Indonesia through the acquisition of BSS Italia (BSI's partner since 2007), and Systems Management Indonesia.

2007: - opened its Thai office to consolidate its presence in fast growing South East Asia

2006: - acquired Entropy International Ltd, a leading provider of performance and sustainability software solutions- expanded into the German and Australian markets through the acquisition of German certification business NIS ZERT and Benchmark Certification Pty Ltd, Australia's second largest certification body

2004:- acquired KPMG Certification B.V in Holland to provide an enhanced range of services to businesses across the Benelux region and the rest of continental Europe

1975 – 2000: Management systems standards

During this period, BSI helped shape many of the world’s management systems standards, including the three most widely adopted for quality, the environment and health and safety. BSI also began its international expansion.

1996: published BS8800 which would inspire BS OHSAS 18001 Occupational Health and Safety Management, helping companies keep people safe and achieve the best possible working conditions.

1995: established its first Asian office, BSI Pacific Ltd, in Hong Kong

1992: BS 7750, the world’s first standard for environmental management systems, inspired ISO 140001, the international standard for environmental management systems that has helped organizations across the world improve their environmental performance

1991: established BSI Americas

1979: published the UK's first management systems quality standard, BS 5750 – it led to the ISO 9000 series of international standards. ISO 9001 has benefited millions of organizations globally, with users reporting increased growth and productivity and significantly higher customer satisfaction and retention.

1946 – 1975: International consolidation and consumer concerns

Standards were published for subjects such as checking air pollution, nuclear energy, safety colours for use in industry, schools and office furniture and the carrying of live animals by air.

1955: BSI opened a new Kitemark testing facility at Hemel Hempstead. The same year Government regulations introduced the compulsory application of the BSI Kitemark for car seat belts and motorcycle helmets.

1951: the Women’s Advisory Committee was formed to advise on standards affecting the domestic consumer. It was the precursor of today’s Consumer and Public Interest Network which coordinates consumer representation on all BSI’s technical committees for consumer products.

1953: the BSI Kitemark was applied to domestic furniture, pressure cookers and motorcycle helmets to help consumers know whether goods were well produced.

1942: the British Government officially recognized BSI as the sole organization for issuing national standards.

1939-45: during World War II ordinary standards work was stopped and efforts were concentrated on producing over 400 ‘war emergency standards'.

1929: the Engineering Standards Committee was granted a Royal Charter. A supplemental Charter was granted in 1931 changing the name, finally, to The British Standards Institution.

1901 – 1914: In the beginning

Formed in 1901 by Sir John Wolfe-Barry - the man who designed London’s Tower Bridge - BSI was the world’s first National Standards Body. The original BSI committee met for the first time on the day Queen Victoria died – 22 January 1901. One of the first standards it went on to publish related to steel sections for tramways.

The BSI Kitemark was first registered by BSI on 12 June 1903 – the same year in which Harley Davidson, Crayola crayons and the Tour de France were born. Originally known as the British Standard Mark, it has grown into one of Britain’s most important and most recognized consumer quality marks.